Freethought & Rationalism Archive

empiricalDeity · 08-16-2007, 08:00 PM

i was reading the book of Job
and the verse that caught my eye was:

Job 2:12

Quote:

12 When they saw him from a distance, they could hardly recognize him; they began to weep aloud, and they tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.

I also found these verses after googling , but didn't find any information or reason for this.

1 Samuel 4

Quote:

12 And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.

Joshua 7:6

Quote:

6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

What does this custom mean and represent.?

Toto · 08-16-2007, 08:06 PM

It's a symbol of mourning.

There's an article in JSTOR: Dust, Earth, and Ashes as Symbols of Mourning among the Ancient Hebrews

empiricalDeity · 08-16-2007, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

It's a symbol of mourning.

There's an article in JSTOR: Dust, Earth, and Ashes as Symbols of Mourning among the Ancient Hebrews

yeh i saw that link, but you have to pay to read it.
I was hoping people know more.

eg how did it derive, how is it associated with mourning etc.

does it have anything to do with Genesis verse, of Adam being created from dust/earth?

Toto · 08-16-2007, 10:35 PM

Studies in Biblical and Semitic Symbolism (or via: amazon.co.uk) is searchable on Amazon and can be previewed at Google Books. There is some speculation on the meaning of this around pp. 250-2. There is no apparent connection with the creation of Adam. The Hebrew word for "ashes" is the same as the word for "dust" and the author there relates the practice to burial customs.

Sorry, but there doesn't seem to be any great theological significance to this that I can see.

Fr. Gottisttot · 08-17-2007, 06:55 PM

The dirt/ashes probably ties into mortality... they know that humans are mortal but think that god is immortal so it is a position of humility.

"Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return."

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08-16-2007, 08:06 PM	#2
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	It's a symbol of mourning. There's an article in JSTOR: Dust, Earth, and Ashes as Symbols of Mourning among the Ancient Hebrews

08-16-2007, 10:35 PM	#4
Toto Contributor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Los Angeles area Posts: 40,549	Studies in Biblical and Semitic Symbolism (or via: amazon.co.uk) is searchable on Amazon and can be previewed at Google Books. There is some speculation on the meaning of this around pp. 250-2. There is no apparent connection with the creation of Adam. The Hebrew word for "ashes" is the same as the word for "dust" and the author there relates the practice to burial customs. Sorry, but there doesn't seem to be any great theological significance to this that I can see.

08-17-2007, 06:55 PM	#5
Fr. Gottisttot Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: da Upper Peninsula Posts: 1,272	The dirt/ashes probably ties into mortality... they know that humans are mortal but think that god is immortal so it is a position of humility. "Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return."

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